Further to our previous post, here’s a bit more info on our work in collaboration with MMU Art School.

This summer we were delighted to again collaborate with Manchester International Festival, having previously designed & furnished their roof terrace garden in 2011 we were invited to broaden the scope of our involvement for the 2013 festival.

We focused on two key areas of the festival site in Albert Square  – the main tepee interior and the enlarged glass house terrace.

As the areas were so different we split the project into two design challenges inviting students from 3D & Interior Design at Manchester Metropolitan University to participate – the project was supported by MMU as part of their “unit X second year programme” which seeks to engage the students in live projects and we were delighted that 51 students elected to participate.

Furniture recycling project for the main tepee interior outside Manchester Town Hall, (traditionally the heart of the festival)

Supported by the fantastic Bute Fabrics who kindly donated 100’s of roll ends of their amazing fabrics, the students up- cycled a diverse range of redundant furniture sourced from across the city including  MMU, Manchester University, the BBC and our friends at the Deaf Institute

Students working hard up cycling the furniture in the Mayfield Storage depot.

 

The finished pieces within the tepee interior.

 

The main tepee bar.

 

The bin bench!

 

Alongside the furniture, local lighting designer and manufacturer Claire Norcross installed a composition of her “Aperture”  lights, MMU design student Rachel Lee also designed and manufactured a range of CNC cut discs featuring MMU & MIF branding.

The completed gantry installation – not yet lit up!

 

The beautiful illuminated Aperture light installation.

 

The main tepee DJ booth featuring fin furniture in the foreground, up cycled furniture the custom DJ booth and local designer/maker Jon Males fantastic recycled lighting.

 

The party!

 

 

Roof Terrace Outdoor Furniture Competition

Students worked in groups to design a collection of outdoor furniture which was then judged by a panel including local architect Roger Stephenson of architects Stephenson ISA studio, Christine Cort MD of MIF, Tom Bloxham, Phil Doyle from 5 Plus architects, Ronnie Doctor of Centriforce Plastics and Ferrious.

The material chosen to manufacture the furniture is an innovative plastic sheet recycled entirely from plastic bottles & kindly supplied by Centriforce plastics

Glenn from Jade shopfitters machines the fin profiles! which were produced using a range of hand & CNC techniques.

 

MMU students Josh, Gian & Felix load profiled fins machined in house using MMU technical facilities and machined by local design company 24.

 

Assembly takes place at the Mayfield storage depot.

 

More hard work – will it never end!

 

The MIF 2013 roof terrace – filled with great furniture and happy customers.

 

The new art school terrace is the permanent home of the furniture.

The fantastic design will last for years to come at MMU and is a tribute to the hard work of all involved, best of all the students got the opportunity to see their designs turned into reality and gained valuable experience realising a live project.

Tom Bloxham MBE comments:

“Manchester International Festival is a commissioning festival and it was great to work with our partners on some great furniture for Festival Square.  The collaboration between MIF, MMU & Ferrious resulting in a live student led project and the realisation of a furniture design then used in the Art School for years to come, is a great example of educational, industry and cultural cross collaboration which reflects the aspirations of all parties included.

Please pass on my thanks and congratulations to all parties concerned.”

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